Welcome to this week’s edition of Open Tabs, where I share my current and recent media consumptions every Sunday!
Summer is truly upon us! I don’t know if I love this season or kind of hate it. Long warm days are nice, but the abundance of sunlight and atrociously-humid air puts me on edge. By August, my brain is simply itching. But at least I can utilize that energy!
In case you missed this week’s letter, I sent another misc. piece about the blurriness of Self (aka what goes on in my head all the time).
Short and sweet, let’s get to the links + recommendations!
Reading [Books]
This week my reading felt a bit like grazing for dinner—nibbling at larger dishes, finishing leftovers, and ultimately filling up on small bites.
I finished The Moon That Turns You Back and Disordered Attention (started last week).
I quickly read Termush by Sven Holm, a dystopian novella, because my library hold came in. I found it really boring, to be honest.
I listened to August Blue by Deborah Levy because the audiobook was only 4 hours, and I just needed something to put on. It was fine—I might have liked it better if I were reading it physically.
I’m reading through stories and essays from various collections, and found myself just picking up random things for a quick hit.
I’m hoping to settle into a novel this week, and get back to more focused reading.
Reading [Online]
Performing Cyber Tenderness: On Authenticity in Vulnerability in Digital Spaces by Veronica Obenauer
I don’t quite remember how I came across this—a thesis/essay/manifesto project from a person I don’t follow or know of at all. My Instagram explore page serves me a lot of design-oriented text and small publications (I like looking at zines and art book accounts when I’m mindlessly scrolling!), so that must have been how I ended up bookmarking this.
Watching [Movie]
Love Spreads (2021)
A band heads to the studio to work on their 2nd album, but the front-woman (played by Alia Shawkat) has writers block…intra-band conflict ensues.
Watching [TV]
My reality show of the week is Siesta Key. I always assumed this was a Jersey Shore type spin-off, but it turns out it’s more akin to Laguna Beach. I’m obsessed with the overly-dramatic “aspirational” cinematography that does not at all mask how boring these people are.
Watching [YouTube]
I was one of those people that got really into the BA test kitchen videos right before it got its own 2020 expose and all the best people (rightfully) left. I still like to watch Claire Saffitz making her desserts, and I’m glad she started her own version of Gourmet Makes (so far she has made Zebra Cakes and Drumsticks).
Listening [Music]
Heaven or Las Vegas — Cocteau Twins
Found myself listening to this album again! A true classic.
Listening [Podcast]
After Reading Rachel Khong’s Real Americans a couple of weeks ago, I listened to quite a few podcast interviews with her (Longform, LARB, Poured Over, The Hatchards Podcast). The novel deals with a lot of interesting (to me) themes, and I’ve really enjoyed listening to Khong speak further on them.
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